Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game device designed to be participated in by two players wherein the game apparatus consists of a patterned playing board and two respective sets of different colored consecutively numbered game pieces, the goal of the game being for each player, in accordance with rules of the game, to move the highest cumulative values of his respective game pieces through channel passages leading to a scoring zone extending across the center of the playing board, the scoring zone for each player being on the side opposite his start point. Playing moves are laterally and longitudinally, for each respective game piece, onto the numbered scoring square at the center of the playing board which matches the corresponding number on the game piece. The game terminates when all scoring squares are filled, and the winner of the game is that player which has the highest cumulative numerical total based upon the sum of the respective values of his numbered game pieces in the scoring squares.

United States Patent 1 Moritz BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: EdwardM. Moritz, 2710 Hartford Rd., York, Pa. 17402 Primary Examiner-DelbertB. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. Hercus Just; Samuel M. Learned, Jr.

[ Feb. 4, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A game device designed to be participatedin by two players wherein the game apparatus consists of a patternedplaying board and two respective sets of different colored consecutivelynumbered game pieces, the goal of the game being for each player, inaccordance with rules of the game, to move the highest cumulative valuesof his respective game pieces through channel passages leading to ascoring zone extending across the center of the playing board, thescoring zone for each player being on the side opposite his start point.Playing moves are laterally and longitudinally, for each respective gamepiece, onto the numbered scoring square at the center of the playingboard which matches the corresponding number on the game piece. The gameterminates when all scoring squares are filled, and the winner of thegame is that player which has the highest cumulative numerical totalbased upon the sum of the respective values of his numbered game piecesin the scoring squares.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Game devices comprising game pieces and a patterned board withspecified passages at the center thereof through which said pieces maybe moved in accordance with the rules of said game, exemplified, forexample, by those such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,265,085 to Ishida,dated May 8, 1918, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,539,426 to Rammelmeyer, dated May26, 1925, have long been known. The heretofore cited game inventionswere designed to amuse and teach, having, however, a specific goal to beachieved or lesson to be taught, as well as rules of play peculiar tothe respective games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is for a substantiallydifferent type of game from those of the prior art and essentiallycomprises a game designed to be participated in by two players only,wherein the game apparatus consists of two equal sets of differentlycolored consecutively numbered game pieces, and a rectangular playingboard having adjacent identical grid-like pattern printed thereon, whichpatterns consist of a row of consecutively numbered start squarepositions corresponding in number and value to the individual members ofthe respective sets of consecutively numbered game pieces, and a patternof squares extending from the respective start square positions towardthe center of said playing board. A scoring zone extends transverselyacross the center of said playing board and consists of a series ofconsecutively numbered scoring squares and channel passages extendbetween certain groups of squares to permit movement of said game piecesinto scoring position.

The goal of the game of the instant invention is for each player toposition the greatest number of his game pieces of highest numericalvalue in scoring position by moving said pieces through said channelpassages at the center of said playing board into the scoring zone atthe side opposite his start point, and then laterally and reverselymoving each game piece into that numbered scoring square whichcorresponds in numerical value to the number on said game piece. Thegame terminates when all scoring positions are filled, the winner beingthat player obtaining the highest cumulative value as determined from asummation of the respective values of his numbered game pieces whichhave become positioned in the numerically corresponding scoring squares.

Although the game comprising the present invention may be somewhatsimilar in appearance to those as taught in lnshida and Rammelmeyer, ithas a structure, rules of play, and amusement and teachingcharacteristics which distinguish it from those game disclosures whichmay be similar, but individually different.

Therefore, it is the principle objective of the present invention toprovide a new game having two sets of game pieces with identifyingindicia which initially are arranged on rows of starting squares atopposite ends of the board and selectively must be moved throughpassages in rows of scoring squares extending transversely across thecenter of the board and onto scoring squares, which are marked withindicia corresponding to the game pieces, at the opposite side of saidscoring row from the starting row of squares, and various other obstaclemeans are included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top view of the playingboard device of the game comprising the invention showing the patternlayout thereof with the respective sets of different coloredconsecutively numbered game pieces set off said board opposite theirrespective consecutively numbered starting position locations.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the playing board device with various gamepieces of the respective players shown in possible positions during theconduct of said game with the paths of movement of those game pieces inplay indicated by a plurality of trace lines showing the series of gamepiece moves executed by each respective player.

FIG. 3 is an end view elevation of the playing board with said gamepieces shown placed thereon in the start position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the presentinvention is shown in detail and comprises a playing board 20 and twodifferent colored sets of consecutively numbered game pieces 22 and 22ashown set off said board 20 opposite their respective consecutivelynumbered starting position squares 24 and 24a in rows at opposite endson said board 20. The playing board 20 pattern comprises, in addition tosaid rows of consecutively numbered starting position locations 24 and24a, a plurality of playing positions squares 26 and 26a adjacent saidstarting position locations 24 and 24a on opposite portions of saidboard 20, said playing position squares 26 and 26a being separated by arow of consecutively numbered scoring squares 28 positioned midway ofand transversely across the board and provided with a series of channelpassages 30 between groups of said scoring squares 28 at the center ofsaid board 20. The numbering arrangement on the scoring row squares 28preferably is the reverse of that of the rows of starting squares 24 and24a. Additionally included as elements of said playing board 20 patternare movement restriction squares 32 and 32a wherein a game piece 22 or22a may be moved forward or backward through said restriction squares 32and 32a but not laterally across the heavy lines 34 and 34a definingsaid movement restriction squares 32 and 32a, as well as restrictedzones 36 and 36a, wherein movement of said game pieces 22 and 22a is notpermitted.

Rules of play of the present invention require that the respectiveplayers initially position their game pieces 22 and 22a respectively insaid starting position locations 24 and 24a so that the numerical valuesof said game pieces 22 and 22a correspond to the numerical values ofsaid starting position locations 24 and 24a in which said game pieces 22and 22a are placed. A player is then designated to initiate the game,which is accomplished by moving a selected game piece 22 or 220 forwardto a playing position square 26 or 26a. The opposing player thenexecutes a similar single move forward with one of his playing pieces toan adjacent square 26 or 26a. Player moves are thereafter continued onan alternate player schedule, each for an increment of 2 single square26 or 26a by each player, either forward, backward, or laterally to theright or left, where permitted. Diagonal moves, however, are notpermitted. A

player may only move in turn. Certain obstacles also are provided in theform of heavy lines 34 or 34a which may not be crossed with a game piece22 or 22a, nor may a player move a game piece into the various cornerrestricted zones 36 or 36a which are employed to limit the length ofstarting square rows 24 and 24a to and positions limit the channels 32and 32a to 10 squares to be formed.

A player also may employ one of his own game pieces 22 or 22a to blockmovement of an opponents game piece 22 or 22a at any time and jumpingsuch blocking pieces is not permitted. However, if a player blocks morethan two channel passages 30 into his opponents scoring zone oppositesaid opponentss starting position location 24 or 24a, said opponent hasthe following options. If three channel passages 30 are blocked, saidopponent may jump over any one of the three blockers in channel passages30. If all four channel passages 30 are blocked, said opponent mayremove from play any one of the four blockers he chooses. A player In ayalso block, without restriction, any of his opponents scoring squares 28which he selects.

The scoring object of this game, in accordance with pre-establishedrules, is for a player to position the greatest number of his own gamepieces 22 or 22a of highest numerical value in scoring position bymoving said game pieces 22 or 22a through said channel passages 30 atthe center of said playing board into the scoring zone side opposite hisstarting position location 24 or 24a, and then laterally and reverselymove each game piece 22 or 22a adjacent the scoring zone until the piececan be moved into that numbered scoring square which corresponds innumerical value to the number on said game piece 22 or 22a.

When a scoring square 28 is occupied with a matching game piece 22 or22a, the opponent players like numbered game piece 22 or 22a iseliminated and removed from the playing board.

The game terminates when all scoring squares 28 are filled, the winningplayer being the one obtaining the highest cumulative numerical value asdetermined by a summation of the respective values of his numbered gamepieces 22 or 22a which occupy the numerically corresponding scoringsquares 28.

Games may be played on an individual basis,or a series of games may beplayed with the winner of said series being that player whichaccumulates the most points at the end of said series.

In FIG. 2 a typical game plan is shown schematically in progress withpaths of movement of exemplary game pieces 22 and 22a being indicated bya plurality of trace lines respectively showing the moves of two seriesof game piece 22 and 22a executed by each player. It will be noted thatgame piece 22a (6) is positioned in a channel passage 30 to block themovement of game piece 22 10) into the scoring zone on the side oppositethe scoring square 28. Game piece 22 (8) is shown in scoring square 28(8) and game piece 22a (8) is shown in phantom outline in startingposition location 24a (8) from whence it was removed in accordance withrules of said game when the opposing player occupied scoring square 28(8) with his game piece 22 (8).

Game piece 22 (7) is shown in a location to either block the channelpassage 30 to which it is nearest located or to move through saidchannel passage 30 into the scoring zone. Game piece 22a (4) is shown inscoring square 28 (4) and game piece 22 (4) is shown in phantom outlineindicating the playing position in which said game piece 22 (4) waslocated when game piece 22a (4) scored. Game piece 22a (2) is shown inscoring zone position, having been moved through the indicated channelpassage 30. Game piece 22a (1) is shown in position to either blockchannel passage 30 or be moved therethrough into said scoring zone. Allother game pieces 22 and 22a are shown in starting position locations 24and 24a.

in FIG. 3 an end view elevation of said playing board 20 is shown withsaid game pieces 22 or 22a placed thereon in starting position locations24 or 24a.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferredembodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the precise details herein illustrated and described sincethe same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope ofthe invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A game comprising in combination, a rectangular playing board havingan overall grid pattern of playing position squares with the oppositeends of said board having rows of starting position squaresconsecutively numbered transversely, sets of game pieces for each of twoplayers, said sets of game pieces being visually distinguishable fromeach other but similarly and consecutively numbered to correspond to thenumbering of said starting position squares, a row of scoring squaresparallel to and midway between said rows of starting position squares,said row of scoring squares being arranged in a plurality of separatedgroups of squares to provide channel passages for said game pieces to bemoved between said groups, transverse sets of rows of consecutivenumbers along said scoring squares for the respective players beingfarthest from the rows of starting squares of said players, whereby itis necessary for the players to move their game pieces through saidchannel passages and onto the scoring square corresponding to the numberon the game piece being moved.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein said numbers of said rows are inrespective reverse order to the sequence of the numbers on the rows ofsaid playing position squares.

3. A game according to claim 1, wherein said playing board patterncontains a series of L-shaped indicia, the respective lateral andlongitudinal extensions thereof having dimensionally equivalentmeasurements to said playing position squares of the overall gridpattern of said rectangular playing board.

1. A game comprising in combination, a rectangular playing board havingan overall grid pattern of playing position squares with the oppositeends of said board having rows of starting position squaresconsecutively numbered transversely, sets of game pieces for each of twoplayers, said sets of game pieces being visually distinguishable fromeach other but similarly and consecutively numbered to correspond to thenumbering of said starting position squares, a row of scoring squaresparallel to and midway between said rows of starting position squares,said row of scoring squares being arranged in a plurality of separatedgroups of squares to provide channel passages for said game pieces to bemoved between said groups, transverse sets of rows of consecutivenumbers along said scoring squares for the respective players beingfarthest from the rows of starting squares of said players, whereby itis necessary for the players to move their game pieces through saidchannel passages and onto the scoring square corresponding to the numberon the game piece being moved.
 2. A game according to claim 1, whereinsaid numbers of said rows are in respective reverse order to thesequence of the numbers on the rows of said playing position squares. 3.A game according to claim 1, wherein said playing board pattern containsa series of L-shaped indicia, the respective lateral and longitudinalextensions thereof having dimensionally equivalent measurements to saidplaying position squares of the overall grid pattern of said rectangularplaying board.